Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-08


ton Otherwise, hold it for further direc-
That WIS an but quite enough to en-
! tighten Lydia
Horror-struck and greatly agitated, she
fastened back to the chateau
| Fairfax once again was successful He
had not planned for nothing. Ere bidding
adieu to the steward of the ssNamovna" he
| had placed in that reliable servants hand
/ an. envelope, (which you viii post from
Hayre,'i he added. It bore the postmark
| of that port, as Lydia observed.)
Uncertain whether or not she were the
victim of cruel, practical joke. the poor
girl, in an agony OF suspense, kept urging
her coachman to speed the horses to their
utmost Although accompanied by her
maid, usually great confidante, she reso-
lutely kept the news to herself. notwith-
standing the anxious questions of that kind
hearted body, who perceived that her young
mistress was unusually distressed.
Lydia's lips were firmly compressed, her
cheek was very pale, and determination APP
peared in every hneament of her face;
while that blue eye, hitherto so tender and
melting, now glittered with baleful glare
of suppressed anger and distress.
The carriage actually arrived at the
chateau in somewhat less than two hours.
The storm was fast coming on, and the
belated lovers, Dimitri and Catharine, sud-
denly aroused to the fact of its rapid ap-
proach, had also been making exertions to
gain the shelter of the chateau ere its
breaking. They reached the gates just
ahead of Lydia. s
The latter, subduing her agitation, in or
binary tones inquired of Catherine where
her mistress was. The maid, in surprise
and sudden alarm, replied that she supposed
the Princess had been at the chateau for
some time. Lydia involuntarily exclaimed !:
THANK God! trust it is sou and began
to feel somewhat relieved. Her perturbation
might, after all, be caused by some frightful
blunder. She must keep the entire affair a
secret until further developments. Re
covering her self-control she quietly asked
Catharine to inform the Princess of her ar
rival
After what seemed to her anxiety an age,
she beheld Catherine returning with a
scared, white face.
.'Oh, my lady, she is not here, and Dim
itri says Medji is nowhere to be found,
either. Where, o where can she be. And
this dreadful storm coming on, too What
shall do! Perhaps, my lady, she went to
see you. I know she was greatly disap-
pointed when she read your note"
When Catherine made this announce
ment, Lydia's heart sank within her and
she felt obliged to yield to the horrible GER
tainty that the impudent missive had told
the truth
Something must be done, and that quickly
too.
Call Madame X" said she.
The madame entered, greatly alarmed
Already drops of rain were beginning to
fall-precursors of the now rapidly APP
preaching storm, ready to burst overhead
in all its fury. The winds sang dolefuliy
through the trees Flashes of lightning
played warningly in the distance, and spite
full mutterings of thunder frequently smote
upon the ear.
Together. the two women perused the
note that Lydia had brought from Dol. 1t
read as follows:
"By the time Madame x. will read this
the Princess Natalie will be far distant from
Chateau DaOr-too far to even think OF
rescuing her. Every precauticn has been,
and will be, taken to prevent the slightest
injury or insult to her. No ransom will be
asked or accepted for her release. She Will
return certainly in six months time from
the date of her abduction, and in all probar
bility much sooner. In the intervening
period she will receive the most courteous
and considerable of treatment. Her favorite
authors and musical composers will be at
her hand. A maid will observe her every
wish. Medji will accompany her. From
week to week one or two notes will be
mailed to her parents, stating the condition
!. of her health and mind, exGctiy as they are.
Should more speedy means of commumcar
ton be found necessary, the telegraph Will
be resorted to. Should her family desire to
communicate with her, let their communlca-
ton be mailed to each one OF the following
journals The Paris Figaro, the London
Times and the New York Herald. Use the
following cipher:
beginning with the letter G as II, II as
-. as IS. and so on, return to A, which, of
course will be 81 finish at F, whose number
will thus be SO: e. G.: 81, IL, 16-21, So, liz,
16'-'Au WELL
SIT will be utterly useless to even attempt
to learn the Princess whereabouts.
ssThe foregoing promises will be kept solely
or condition that no effort is made either to
rescue her or to discover any thing whatever
with regard to her. 80.
.As regards immediate communication, if
that be necessary. telegraph cipher-dis-
patch to the same papers, with the request
to insert the cipher-message in their next
ssues."
Both ladies were Mortified and astonished
at the enormity and daring of this deeply
laid plan They could scarcely believe the
evidence of their senses that such a bold at
fair had actually taken place in district so
populous and carefully guarded. 1t seemed
impossible, and yet the proof of it lay in Nat
allies absence and the two notes.
CHAPTER XII
TOO LATE.
The storm was now raging in its full
force. The rain, in perfect torrents, was
driving against the chateau walls. The
wind howled about the house-corners and
down the chimneys. Peal after peal of
6eafening thunder rang through the
heavens, and the lightning in binding
flashes seemed never to cease. The en-
tire house was in state of wild confu-
sion and alarm, and each servant was
rushing aimlessly around, questioning the
other.
Dimitri and Catherine swore that the
Princess quilted her painting only
few minutes before they themselves left
the terrace. They exhibited the picture,
moist with freshly-lai colors, as proof Of
her work during the afternoon. Sc
Neither man nor maid had seen nor heard
any thing unusual. On the drive home
they passed no persons. excepting some
carriers and a wayfaring pedestrian -
all men well known in the neighborhood.a
If these persons had witnessed any thing
strange they surely would have spoken
of it.
.'StayI Dimitrir' said Catherine, with
sudden inspiration; do you remember
noticing something queera''
Dimitri reflected a moment. Said he:
''Do you mean that whistlel"
"Yes,' was her reply; land do you re.
member that / spoke to you about it and